Published in the May 13, 2016 edition
EMMA WIKLUND is going Ivy. The Melrose resident and Arlington Catholic senior was recruited by Columbia University to play Div. 1 college field hockey next fall. (courtesy photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — Melrose’s Emma Wiklund, a senior at Arlington Catholic, has been recruited to play Div. 1 Ivy League field hockey at Columbia University.
Emma currently plays midfield for the Northeast Elite’s gold team, which is ranked #10 nationally for U19. Emma was recruited by the Ivy League Columbia, as well as many other schools, while rising in the ranks of club field hockey in the Boston area. Locally, Emma is active in the Melrose Community, with participation at MMTV.
According to her parents, Dana and Kim Wiklund of Melrose, the last Division I field hockey player from Melrose was Meaghan Shea, who set records at UNH some years ago.
Wiklund started playing in the 5th grade on a lark while on vacation in Maine. Soon she was playing club, making three appearances on USA Field Hockey Futures, earning 8 National tournament appearances. She became a founding member of Arlington Catholic girls field hockey team and was a captain for three years. In 2015 Wiklund, then a junior, was recruited by Columbia University in large part because her G.P.A. is over 4.0.
According to Wiklund, playing elite club field hockey for 6 years took a large commitment with early morning practices, trips for tournaments and conditioning. “I have made many sacrifices in order to maintain both academics and athletics at a high level,” she says, acknowledging the difficulty balancing grades and sports. “When I’m in season for school it often takes a lot of hard work in order to keep up with homework and studying nightly after practice and games. In addition, I often have to keep up schoolwork if I am traveling for a national tournament.”
Getting there took the support of those who loved her and guided her along the way. “I would like to thank my parents, coaches and teammates who have helped me reach where I am today,” she says. “They have continuously inspired me to work hard toward my goals and have pushed me to constantly improve as a person and a player.”
Wiklund, also sister to Ryan of Melrose, plans to major in neuroscience and behavior on a pre-med track at Columbia.
